A Lonely Lamp Shines on the Snow

Undergoing a major revision~ Updates will be slower

[Rebellious, unhinged, fiercely loyal dog × spoiled, love-struck man vs. calculating schemer × vindictive, beautiful femme fatale]

1.

The Rakshasa Green Snake, ranked third on the Ghost List. The name had circulated in the martial world for years, and Jiang Xu's services could not be bought for any price.

No one knew that the fearsome assassin of today was Ning Zhilu, the daughter of a disgraced minister, who had once been left destitute on the streets.

When she was fifteen, her father was framed, imprisoned, and stripped of his home and possessions. Overnight, the young lady of the Ning family became a stray. Ning Zhilu went to the princess's residence to beg for help, only for Chu Yunshen to kick her aside and crush her finger bones.

Eight years later, she returned to the capital to avenge that old wrong. Jiang Xu infiltrated the Chu residence under the cover of a mission. The once-noble young lady could only bow and scrape as a servant in the Prince of Chu's household, waiting to be chosen by anyone who pleased.

It was said that Chu Yunshen, the Prince of Chu's only son, was cruel-tempered and unpredictable, and no one dared come within three feet of him.

On her first night at the Chu residence, Jiang Xu crossed swords with the young master. He showed no mercy and was determined to fight to the death. Jiang Xu spared him to achieve her goal, but not before he left a wound on her arm.

The next morning, Jiang Xu, now a maid, knelt before him. Chu Yunshen used the long sword with which he had wounded her the night before to lift her chin. His eyes were dark, his lips red as blood.

"Why won't you look at me?"

Jiang Xu finally met his gaze, acting three parts frightened and seven parts helpless, playing the pitiful maiden to perfection. Her eyes glistened with tears. Her voice trembling, she answered timidly, "This lowly servant is beneath you. I fear I would offend your eyes, Young Master."

Chu Yunshen saw only her weakness and helplessness. He had no idea what kind of blood-soaked vendetta she carried when she came to his side.

2.

Chu Yunshen was exceptionally gifted, talented even as a boy. But when his mother died when he was twelve, the darling of heaven fell from grace and became the madman everyone in the capital avoided.

Rumor had it that Chu Yunshen was arrogant, unruly, and cruel. Anyone from outside who entered the Chu residence would have their skin peeled off alive.

Chu Yunshen was happy to be left alone, until the Qixiu Pavilion sent a group of women to the residence. The famously woman-averse Chu Yunshen picked Jiang Xu out from among them at a glance.

The others sighed in regret. What a shame for such a beautiful young woman.

Chu Yunshen looked at the seemingly helpless woman before him and felt no particular interest. He merely thought that having another beautiful scapegoat would be nice.

He assumed Jiang Xu would be tortured until she wished she were dead, but instead Chu Yunshen kept her at his side, never letting her out of his sight.

The arrogant young master Chu even took his personal maid's hand and strolled through the streets, spending a fortune just to make her smile.

Young Master Chu fell in love, but Jiang Xu did not.

As snow fell thickly, Jiang Xu told him the truth and plunged a dagger into Chu Yunshen's chest.

Blood poured from him as the crowd surged around them. Jiang Xu vanished into it.

She never looked back.

A venomous snake against a mad dog, fangs bared. Let's see who can bite harder.

#He knows she has feelings, but not how deep they go

#I'm only pretending to be helpless. I'm third on the assassins' list

One-on-one, happy ending, both leads are virgins

Chu Yunshen vowed that they would never part for the rest of their lives.

But when she was on the brink of death, Chu Yunshen searched the whole world for the finest physicians. He would gladly give away all his wealth, even use his own flesh and blood as medicine to save her.

Jiang Xu sighed. "Why don't you kill me?"

With red-rimmed eyes, Chu Yunshen held Jiang Xu captive in his arms and gritted out, "You owe me too much. You deserve to be tormented by me for all eternity."

Content warnings:

1. At first, the two truly try to kill each other, hurting one another while sparing each other's lives. The heroine is especially vicious toward the hero: as long as she can't kill him, she'll make him wish he were dead.

2. The heroine isn't perfectly good, but she has basic human decency. She won't do anything outrageously inhumane or against common sense.

3. The heroine is an absolute beauty and something of a heartthrob, captivating both men and women. Before the leads get together, she has flirtatious interactions with supporting characters. If you're an extreme heroine-only purity fan, or expect her to remain chaste for the hero from birth, this isn't for you.

4. At heart, I just want to write a melodramatic Mary Sue story where you love me but I don't love you. Everything serves the romance between the leads. This is an alternate-history setting, so please don't nitpick the historical details.

5. If you spot any obvious factual errors, please feel free to point them out!

6. Let's hope for sixes all around... It's a lucky number. I just hope everyone enjoys the story. The characters' values don't represent the author's values. You can criticize the characters, but please don't criticize me, dear readers.

Theme: Leave a good name in this world